Cenk Uygur, Adam Green and several "progressive influencers" think it is hip to hate on Obama (like the "Occupy" Movement is now perfecting) but are helping send the "Progressive" brand into the same fringe category that will scare away the many rank-and-file progressives that support President Obama and are willing to call out his failings, but NOT sabotage him.
Why? Because he is obviously in one of the most difficult circumstances an American President has ever faced and is doing more for The 99% than they will ever do.
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With friends like the "progressive base" the President doesn't need enemies:
"Vote Against Obama in Iowa" by Cenk Uygur
http://www.dailykos.com/...
True, Obama isn't going to deliver the "Progressive Bill of Rights" anytime soon but that is for several reasons...including the Media, the Public, the Congress and Time.
Fox News built a media powerhouse, Evangelicals were voting in droves, Ben Nelson was obstructing change and there were only 24 hours in a day, long before Obama arrived in Washington.
He can't fight and win every battle....and in some cases he might simply disagree with your ideas and approach to politics. Especially because he doesn't have the luxury of being an Arm Chair Quarterback.
It is true that he got Health Care Reform and Wall Street Reform done but they have holes....yet look at the obstruction they both have faced to get this far! It took the "Cornhusker Kickback" to get HCR without a public option and Richard Cordray can't even get approved to staff the CFPB.
Was Madison a bastard because of the 3/5 compromise? Jefferson and Washington because they had slaves? Lincoln because he suspended habeas corpus? FDR because he interned Japanese Americans? LBJ because he led the slaughter of 58,000 American soldiers for a lost cause? Clinton because he allowed a genocide in Rwanda?
Let's visit reality where the perfect can't be the enemy of the good. Obama's "crimes" are a fraction of the size of these actions.
I'm pretty perplexed by NDAA as anyone but I do know the Gitmo and "enemy combatant" issue is very complicated...that is why they caved on letting KSM get a trial in Manhattan. Right now does Obama need that fight on his hands when there are truly innocent people suffering in America?
Overall, my feeling is that when someone fights for you 80% of the time he deserves your full support because you won't agree with ANYONE on every action they take no matter how pure a heart is. Frankly, I don't trust anyone ideologically locked into one point-of-view on EVERY issue.
Either way, Barack Obama, the most progressive president in U.S. history, should deserve some semblance of progressive support....which means not voting
AGAINST THEM for the Democratic nomination in Iowa when there is no challenger.
Although "money in politics" is an issue the party needs to deal with etc. in the end the difference between the 111th Congress and the 112th Congress tells you all you need to know regarding which party is working for The 99% and which is working for The 1%.
Here is a sampling of what they accomplished despite getting severely out-lobbied by Tea Party constituents by mail, phone, email and even social media: http://www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com
And for the record: Obama unveiled a $450 Billion "American Jobs Act" before Occupy Wall Street launched on September 17th.
By undermining that fact, progressives also undermine The 99% and in 2010 allowed the obstacles to grow worse for this President who was able to pass a $800 billion stimulus package when he actually had a team behind him. Now he struggles to pass a middle class tax cut....yet he is blamed for moving to the Right.
The reality is that Republicans think they can get away with stealing from the voters because of their superior unity and messaging....I wonder why that is????
The bottom line is, by shunning people who aren't as 100% "progressive" it isolates the Movement. And thus it will fail...hello President Romney!
But by building consensus and working together we can win elections and even put pressure on Obama and Democratic allies to move a very difficult agenda forward.
To the doubters I want to remind you of the spirit that got you this far in the first place....Yes We Can.